Process for constructiong boots and shoes



May 12, 1925.

L. L. COMEAU PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTING BOOTS AND SHOES Filed June so; 1924 Z; Cmwzi/ Yca Clam M6410 Patented May 12, 1925.

NITED STATES LARRY L. QOMEAU, 0F BRADFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTING BOOTS AND SHOES.

Application filed June 30, 1924. Serial No. 723,333.

To 07] venom if may C(HIIYIH.

to it known that l. lixnnv L. (om-1A1, a citizen of the liuited b'tates. residing at Bradford. in the county of Essex and State of l\lassachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a lrocess for Constructing l-loots'and Shoes; aml l do (leclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suclras will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the manufacture of boots and shoes and primarily to the construction of ladies high and low heeled shoes.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive process for constructing a shoe which will have the flexibility, comfort and appearance of a turned shoe, but will not necessitate the use of the expensive and complicated machines commonly employed for manufacturing turned shoes.

iVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings. 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a last and sheet of flexible material temporarily secured thereon, to which to cement the inturned edges of the shoe upper.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the lined upper and the heel counter stretched over the last with the inturncd edgcsot' the upper cemented or glued to the flexible sheet and temporarily secured by tacks tothe shank of the last.

Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the manner in which the inturncd edges of the upper are wired together at the shank of the last, bcfore removing the upper, heel counter and flexible sheet from the last.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the sole partly secured in place, with its instep portion covering the wires shown in Fig. 3.

In carrying out my invention, I temporarily secure a sheet of any suitable flexible material 1, to the front portion of an ordinary wooden shoe last 2. said sheet extending from the shank 3 of the lastto the toe 4, but having its edges preferably spaced i11- wardly from the edges of the last, as shown in Fig. 1.

To the last 2 and the sheet 1 secured to said last, the upper 5 is applied, as shown in Figure 2, said upper having been previously provided with the usual lining 6 and with a heel counter 7. The edge portions of the. upper 5 are turned inwardly as indicated at' 8, onto the edge portions of the flexible sheet I, and are glued or cemented thereto. The edge portions of the upper are also turned inwardly around the shank 3 of the last and are temporarily secured by tacks 9. The parts, in this condition, are allowed to dry on the last so that the shape of the latter is imparted to the upper. Then, the tacks 9 are removed and a short length of wire '10 is passed through the inturncd edges of the upper and through the front ends 11 of the heel counter 7, the ends of the wire being twisted together or otherwise connected, as indicated at 12. Another length of wire 13 is passed through the inturncd edges of the upper immediately adjacent to the flexible sheet 1, and the ends of this wire are connected as indicated at 14'. These Wires hold the instep portion of the upper in propor position, while the outer sole 15 is being,

cemented in place, and said upper and so le may be removed from the last without danger of changing the shape of the instep portion, in any manner.

After the cement is dry and the upper, the sheet 1, the heel counter 7, the wires 10 and 13 and the sole 15, have been removed from the last 2, as a single unit, said sole 15 is,

stitched to the inturncd edges of the upper, for instance, by an ordinary Mackay machine, the instep portion 16 of said sole being secured over the wires lt) and 13, as will be. clear from Fig. 4-. The twisted ends of these wires are of course bent downwardly, as indicated in the last mentioned view. It will be seen that the Wires in question not only hold the instep portion of the upper in proper position while it is being removed from the last and stitched to the sole, but that these wires remain permanently in the shoe and at all times connect parts of the inturncd edges of the upper, to produce agreatly reinforced structure. The usual shank piece 17 may be inserted at any desired time, and the inturncd edges of the upper may be secured, for instance, by tacks 18 to an inner sole member 19, and obviously a heel may be applied and the shoe finished in any desired manner. The inner sole 19 need not extend for- Wardly beyond the shank or instep portion of the shoe, unless particularly desired, as the flexible sheet 1 prefepably remains in the com leted shoe. If desired, however, it will e understood that the inner sole may be extended throughout the length of the shoe, or any desired lining such as a piece of fabric cemented over the stitching and the sheet 1, to take the place of the front portion of an insole.

Itwvill be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and rapid process for constructing shoes having the fleXibi-lity,,appearance and comfort of turned shoes, yet that the expensive and complicated machines necessary for constructing turned shoes, are not necessary.

As excellent results have been obtained from the steps herein disclosed, such steps.

are preferably followed, but obviously they need not be performed in the exact order set forth.

I claim:

1. lhe process of constructing a shoe, consisting in assembling the upper and placing the heel counter therein, temporarily securing a sheet of flexible material to a last from its shank to its toe, placing the upper and the heel counter upon the last and turning the edge of the upper inwardly onto said flexible sheet and the shank of the last, cementing the inturned edge of the upper to theaforesaid flexible sheet and temporarily tacking said edges to the shank of the last, removing thetacks When the cement is dry,passing a length of Wire through the inturned edges of the upper behind the aforesaid sheet and connecting the ends of said Wire, and securing a sole to the inturned edges of the upper with its instep portion covering said Wire.

2. The process of constructing a shoe,

consisting in assembling the upper and placing the heel counter therein, temporarily securing a sheet of flexible material to a last from its shank to its toe, placing the upper and .the heel counter upon the last and turning the edge of the upper inwardly onto said flexible sheet and the hank of the last, cementing theinturned edge of the upper to the aforesaid flexible sheet and temporarily tacking said edge to the shank of the last, removing the tacks when the cement is dry, passing a length of Wire through the inturned edges of the upper and the front ends of the heel counter and connecting the ends of said Wire, and securing a sole to the inturned edges of the upper With its instep portion covering said wire.

8. The process of constructing a shoe. consisting in assembling the upper and placing the heel counter therein, temporarily securing a sheet of flexible material to a last from its shank to its toe, placing the upper and the heel counter upon the last and turning the edge of the upper inwardly onto said flexible sheet and the shank of the last, cementing the inturned edge of the upper to the aforesaid flexible sheet and temporarily tacking said edges to the shank of the last, removing the tacks When the cement is dry, passing transverse lengths of Wire through the inturned edges of the upper behind the aforesaid sheet, connecting the ends of each length of Wire and securing a shank reinforcing member in place by and between the upper and lower portions of said lengths of Wire, and securing a sole to the inturned edges of the upper with its instep portion covering said Wires and reinforcing member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto allixed my signature.

LARRY t. COMEAU. [1,. s] 

